Botulism

Home Canning Foodborne botulism is often from home-canned foods and is caused by not following home-canning instructions. Commercially, canned foods purchased in retail establishments are a much less likely source of botulism because modern commercial canning uses processes that kill C. botulinum spores.

Botulism in Infants Honey is only associated with botulism in infants. Honey can contain C. botulinum, so children younger than 12 months old should not be fed honey in order to prevent infant botulism from happening.

Foodborne botulism Foodborne botulism can be caused by food that is not kept refrigerated. In Alaska, foodborne botulism is often caused by traditional Alaska native foods, including fermented fish, because of the way these foods are sometimes prepared.

Because botulinum toxin is injected, people can get botulism if the dose is too high. And when it does happen, it's called iatrogenic botulism.